Driving means for slicing machines



Dec. 22, 1953 H. c. GROVE DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1953 INVENTOR: HA'RQL'D QQROVE.

ATTORNEYS Dec. .22, 1953 H. c. GROVE 2,663,

DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5, 1953 4 Sheets-$heet 3 8'? 9\ 8 20 J :L \05 86 Z e 4 I4! 80 8 J 7 HAROLD C. GRovE.

1N VENTOR I g gwm ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 1953 g, GROVE 2,663,341

DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jan. 5 1953 4 Sheets-#Sheet 4 a e. ATTORNEYS I around their pulleys or sprocket wheels.

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES "PATENT. OFFICE 2,663,341 V DRIVING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINES" Harold C. Grove, Charlotte," N. 0..

Application January 5, 1953, Serial No. 329,879

1 a This invention relates to slicing machines and the. like of'the gravity-feed type and, more especially, to an improved detachable or disengagable means for driving the reciprocating table or carriage of such machines upon which the article to be operated uponis supported and by which the article is moved into and out of engagement with a powerdriven knife.

ltis the primary object of this invention to provide an. improved conversion driving unit for machines of the aforementioned type which may be readily mounted on existing slicing machines;

" which is compact, light in weight, and may be conveniently operated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel construction and arrangement of parts comprising power operated mechanisms for reciprocating the" table or carriage of a slicing machine with means for quickly engaging and disengaging the power operated mechanisms relative to the table, article support or carriage topermit free operation thereof by hand, if so desired.

More specifically, it is still another object of thisinvention to provide a conversion driving unit of the character described, wherein a driv-- en slicing knife or blade is provided, which comprises a pair of closely spaced parallel endless belts or sprocket chains with driving connections belts and has a carriage propelling thrust rod or pin thereon which projects upwardly and is slidably mounted in the lower portion of th'e'carriage, support or table, the pin beingof such length that it will remain in engagement with the carriage throughout movement of the endless belts or chains as they pass'between and In so doing, the endless belts or sprocket chains impart reciprocatory movement to the carriage.

Also, two forms of means for throwing the driving means for the reciprocating table or carriage out of operative relation with the reciproeating table or carriage are embodied'in this application. One form of means for throwing the driving means out of operative relation with the table or carriage includes a clutch meansintere riage spaced immediately below the article. sup- 9 Claims. (Cl. 146--102) as it imparts movement thereto. shiftable means carried by the article support porting carriage or table and in which said thrust rod or pin has vertical reciprocatory movement A manually or carriage may be moved into and out of engagement with a projection or pin on the auxiliary carriage whereby, when the shiftable means carried by the article support or carriage is moved out of operative relation with the auxiliary carriage, the auxiliary carriage may continue to reciprocate as said vertically reciprocable pin moves in engagementtherewith, as it is driven by said endless belts or sprocket chains and to thereby permit free operation of the article carriage or support by hand, if so desired.

This application is a continuation-in-part of o my co-pending application entitled Manual and Automatic Conversion Driving Unit for Slicing Machine, filed February 23, 1952, and bears Serial Number 272,948.

. at'the opposite 'end of the slicing machine from that shown in Figure 1; I 30.

" tial vertical. sectional view taken substantially .along the line 33 in Figure 2 and showing one form of the improved means for imparting reciprocating movement to the article support or car- Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal substanriage;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan View taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figure 3, with I parts broken away and with other parts in sectio'n;

" Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially alon the line 5---5 in Fig- 3;

I disposed at an angle for purposes of clarity;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view with parts in section, taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Figure 6' and showing, particularly, the manner in which the shifting yoke for, the clutch is supported;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary isometric view, with 1 parts in section and other parts broken away, j looking substantially in the direction of the arrow 8;,ln'the central left-hand portion of 3 Figure 6 and showing the manner in which the vertically reciprocable carriage thrust shaft or pin is supported by the endless belts or chains;

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3, but with the lefthand portion thereof broken away and showing another form of means for throwing the driving means for the reciprocating article carriage out of operative relation with the article'eair'iag to permit free operation thereof by hand;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary substantially vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line Hll8 in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is another vertical" sectional view taken substantially along the line [1 :1] ln'Figi me 10.

Referring more specifically "to the drawings; the conversion driving unit or imp-roveddrivingi.

means for the article carriage or support is shown in associationwith a slicing machineof .a type manufactured by American: Slicing Machine Gompany, Chicago Illinois, and wherein,

heretofore,- the carriageof the machine has been reciprocated solely by hand. Since the primary .elements of a slicing machine with which the present invention maybe associated are a driven cutter blade and-the horizon-tally movable carriage, it'wi-ll-be apparent that the present invention may beused in association with many other types ot-slicingmachines, the sliding machine in the draw ings being shown by way of illustra- -tion only. However, in order that the invention may be clearly understood, a description will first'be given of the slicing machine.

The slicing machine comprises a cast frame or basebroadly designated at which is substantially inverted U-shaped ih cross-section and f hasintegra lly east side walls 2! and 22 and end walls 23 and 2a, which may he termed as front and. rear end walls, respectively. 'The upper edges; of the side walls 2-] and22 andthe end walls Hand 24 are connected to the edges of an angularly disposed top wallf25"which' only partially encloses the upper" portion of the base '2E land is provided with a longitudinally extending opening or slot 26 therein.

"The base or cast frame 20f is provided'with a plurality of foot was an" at trie oorners thereof 7 onwhich the cast frameor tase'zt is supported.

The upper edges of the end waiisrs and 24m? the castfrarne or base ZOliaVesuitableZ primary or "article carriage "guide su ports 3| and '32 suitably secured thereto in which opposite ends of a pair'bf transversely spaced longitudinally extending guide bars or rods 33 and 34 area-1pported.

It willbe noted that the guide parses and 34 are disposeddt' different levels corresponding to the angularity ofthe upper wall 25 of the base in. However, these guide'tai s 3'3 and (Jane shown disposed at the samo'lev'e1 in Figure 6,

since the machine is tilted at an angle for..pur-

poses of clarity an to correspond to the line 66 a1ong which Fi ure 6 is'taken' in Figure 3.

Itwill' be note that the upper edges of the supports 3f and'32 are curved and'supp'o'rt oppositeends of a conventional shield orl'gu'ard 35.

A conventional primary or 'alrticle carriage,

' table or support; broadly "desig'nated'at 36, is

mounted for longitudinal Sliding movement on the guide bars 33 and and, in this instance. the carriage '36 is shown di'sposed at an angle transversely of the east frame or-base 20 andis therefore commonly known as a gravity-feed carriage. The carriagetfi is preferably of cast 4 construction and the front and rear walls thereof are provided with corresponding openings 31 and 40 through which the guide bars 33 and 34 and the shield 35 extend. 5 The carriage 36 is of a substantially greater width than the shield 35 and opposite side portions thereof, which define the openings 31 and 40, are bridged by a transverse guide block ii (Figures 2, 3 and 6) which is slidably penetrated :o by the guide bars 33' and 34, thus facilitating movement of the carriage 36 longitudinally of said bars 33 and 34. The carriage 36 may be of conventional or any other desired construction and shape and a detailed description thereof is thusdeemed unnecessary. However, it might be stated that the carriage 36 has a substantially V-shaped' article or material support 43 thereon for supporting the material to be sliced, such as meat or the like. 20' The carriage 36 also has a forwardly extend- 'projection' lftliereon' in which the lower end of an upright handle4'5 is suitably secured. The handle'45 is adapted to be grasped by an operator to facilitate reciprocating the carriage 2536 by hand longitudinally'on said guide bars 33 and 34,-when desired.

The frame or base" 20 also has a conventional blade housing 46 thereon i'n'w'hich"a circular blade'o'r' cutting knife'dl is partially disposed. frhisbladefl is disposed adjate'ntthe carriage stand is ofsubstantially"'concavo=convex configuration. 'It' Will'be observed that the housing 'flfiis 'closed b'y a rear guide'p'late 550 which is so formed that the cutting edge of" the blade 41 projeetsoutwarmy at the front edgeof the guide ,plate'S il and anad'justable front guide plate 51 is also'disp'c'a'se'd in substantially parallel relation to the guide plate 50.

Thus, as the carriage 36 ismoved forwardly from adjacent the endwall 23 to the end wall 24 of the base 20, the material to be severed is supported" upon' the article supporting member t3 and slides against the guide plate 51 and, as f"tlieslice 'is' removed therefrom by the blade 41, *t'he' slice" passes back'of" the-blade in relative to the side wall2l of the base 2 5 and the material tlie'n slides against the plate =50.

The bladed-l is'driven" in aconventional man- "ne'rb'y'inea'ns of a grooved pulley it fixed to 'the outer surface thereof relative to the guide 'platefliand which is engaged by an endless belt "'53 alsomounted one multi grooved pulley 54. The multi grooved pulley' 't d' is fixed on the shaft ""55 or 'an'electricmotor 'tifi'suitably supported by the frame'20and having wires 57 and 58 extendin therefrom 'to' a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown. The base 25) also has "a 'suitab'le platform '61 secured thereto onto which the slices of'nieatf or thelikefali as they 60'? are severed by the blade 41.

it will beobseifved in Figure 4 that thefront article guide plate 5: is suitably secured to a braoketti-fixed on cdfi'es'ponding ends of trans ,7 verse angularly'disposed guide rods or bars 53 fifi and fl. 'IIhe guide rods 63 aiid 8E are'mounted for lateral'sl-iding movement relative to the guide barssa'snd 3's in theside wall 22 and, also, the guide rod 34 spans the distance between the side walls '22 a'nd 2| and is slidably' mounted in the sidewall 2|. A follower supporting bracket "65 is'adjustably' seeured'intermedidte the ends of' the shaft orgui'debar 64 and'has'one end of a tensionspring' 66 connected thereto. The other end of the tension spring-is'suitably connected to the inner surface of the side wall 22'.

Thus, the tension spring 86 normally urges the front. article guide plate EI outwardly or away from the observer in Figure 3 and serves as a counter-balancing means for the article guide plate. 5|. The bracket 65 has a pair of spaced cam followers I8 and II thereon which engage substantially diametrically opposed surfaces of respective cam wheels I2 and I3 fixed .0n one end of a relatively short longitudinally extending shaft '14 (Figure 1). The shaft 74 is rotatably supported in the end wall 23 and has. a control knob 75 fixed on the outer end thereof which is shown in partially exploded re lation to the end wall 23 in Figure 1 to illustrate suitable graduations thereon adjacent which an indicating mark I8 is provided on the front wall 23.

',The purpose of the graduations on the control knob I5 is to facilitate determining the spacing between the cutter blade 4! and the front article guide plate 5L In other words, byrotating the control knob I5 in one direction, the cam wheels I2 and 13 cause the shaft or guide bar 64 to move transversely in one direction to thus move the article guide plate 5| outt .tion, the article guide plate 5| is caused to move closer to the blade 41 (Figure 1) for cutting relatively thinner slices.

The means for varying the position of the front article guide plate 5! relative to the blade "does not constitute a part of the present invention, but is merely shown to illustrate that the present invention may be used in association therewith and is so designed that it will not interfere with the operation of said means for varying the position of the article guide plate 5I.

The parts heretofore described are conventional parts of a slicing machine and do not,

necessarily, constitute parts of the present invention, the slicing machine described merely being a preferred type of machine with which the present invention is adapted to be associated.

Now, in order to facilitate either manual or automatic reciprocation of the carriage 38, as

desired, I have provided a unique form of driving means for the carriage wherein two forms of means are disclosed'for throwing the driving means out of operative relation with the article carriage or support to permit free operation prises a bottom wall 8|, side walls 82 and 83 and end walls 84 and 85. r

A topwall or cover 88 is suitably secured to the upper edges of the walls 82 to 85, inclusive, as by screws 81 (Figures 4, 5 and 6). The

cover or top wall 88 has a narrow longitudinally extending slot 98 in the center thereof and, since the top wall or cover 86 extends at an angle in substantially parallel relation to the top wall 26 of the cast base or frame 28, a suitable shield or-lubricant retainer BI is suitably secured to,

and projects upwardly from, the top wall or cover 88 and is disposed immediately adJacent the lower wall of the slot 88. It is to be underinclusive.

on a common transverse shaft '24 of the cast frame or base 28, as by bolts 96.

It will be noted that the bracket 98 is so,formed that it passes beneath, and thus clears, the cam wheels 12 and '13. 'Disposed within the housing 88v are respective first and second endless belts or sprocket chains I88 and I8I which extend in closely spaced parallel relationship to each other.

The endless belts or sprocket chains I88 and V I8I are mounted on respective pairs of pulleys or sprocket wheels I82, Hi3 and I85, I85 rotatably mounted on respective shoulder bolts. :88 to I88, The shoulder bolts 36 and I 8'! are carried by the side wall 82 and the shoulder bolts I88 and I88 are'carried by the side wall '83 of the housing 88. The proximal edges of the sprocket chains or endless belts I88 and ,I8I

have opposite ends of a pivot shaft II2 suitably secured thereto and, in this instance,.it will be .observed in Figure 8 that the, opposite ends of the pivot shaft II2 are suitably secured to the proximal sides of the medial portions of adjacent links of the sprocket chains I88 and I8I.

. The enlarged lower end II3 of a vertically're- ,ciprocable carriage propelling thrust pin or shaft H4 is pivotally supported on the pivot shaft H2 and extends upwardly therefrom through slot 98 in the cover 88 and slidably penetrates a guide bushing II5 carried by a guide block H6 suitably secured to, or integral with, the medial portion of the transverse guide block M of the carriage 36. The guide block M of the carriage 36 also has an opening I I! therein through which the upper portion of the carriage thrust pin or shaft II4 extends as it moves with the upper reaches of the endless belts or sprocket chains I88 and I81.

It is evident that the particular manner in which the upper portion of the vertically recip- 1rocable carriage thrust shaft or pin 4 is connected to the transverse guide block M of the article carriage 36 may be varied somewhat with- .out departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

For example, the transverse block 4I may be especially constructed with a boss depending therefrom in lieu of the bushing H5 and in which the pin II4 may have longitudinal reciprocatory movement.

The sprocket wheels or pulleys I82 and I 84 are suitably secured to, or may be integral with, hub

portions of respective gears I28 and I2I also-rotatably mounted 'on the respective shoulder bolts I86 and I88. The gears I28 and I2I mesh with respective pinions or gears I22 and I23 fixed I24 rotatably mounted in the sidewalls 82 and 83 of the housing 88 (Figures 3, 4 and 6). One end of the shaft I24 has an axially movable clutch member I25 slidably mounted thereon, which is provided with a longitudinal slot I28 therein in which a pin or key I2! is disposed. The pin or key I 21 is suitably secured to the shaft I24. Thus, the pin or key I21 permits longitudinal movement of the movable clutch member I25, but prevents relative rotational movement between the clutch member I25 and the shaft I24.

;,- The clutch member I25 is normally urged into A: s vas I once shaft [16' (-F'" rotation the: dates 7 engagement with amatifi'g' -eluth ihihlfiei I38 by any suitable means such as aeempression Sifiifig [3 lwhich surrounds the Shaft llfand opposite ends of which bear against the movable ohith member 1:5 am the outer'surraee (if the walrus of the housin all, The" clutch member l2 '5- hasa peripheral groove I32 therein wmcnis sli'da'lily engaged by suitable diametrially op"- posed projections oi afms I33 and" I34 of gyoke member broadly des'igt-iated at [40" (mattress-t and 75.

The yoke mefn'bei' H is fixed on one end of a slii fting -leiier' lfl which-is pivoted, as at M2, onthe sidewau 83 of housing'ae and then extends downward-1y at an angle and then fofvvar'dly and anup--tur'ned:portion M-Ia (Figiires- 1-,-'4 'afid 6) on the front end thereof which is adapted to grasped by an operates for imparting mdvement-to; It wi ll'b'e observed in Figures '1 ancl'G that 'th'e' lower edge of the front wall Z3 0fc'aSifig or frame 2| has a paifofriotches M3 and 144 therein and} in either of which the'shifting lv'e'r 4 1 is adapted" to bepos'itiond. 1

The wall 23 of the frame has the word Stop disposed above the notch E 43 and the words "In- Gea'r abovethe' not'ch M4 to ther'ehy indieate whether the clutch members I25 and 'l sci'a're in engagement with each other. It=might be stated that the" lever Ml is-made'of'a'materi'al slll ffici'ently flexible to be biased 1 downwardly rela- 'nrovabieciuteh "member 125; when said clutch nee out isen agement with 'tri'e tin clutch member r30" "d-the' prokimalend 63' is mountedfor 1 "d ot the" mpwbis clutch 125 "Tue' eiuteh nfember 113 a suitably be d 's'haft [4e and, thus; remain-s sated ihuepefidenuy of the driving means' -therefor; including the shaft M6} although manual feei'pi ocatioh of the article carriage itfi'will impart or article carriage to pfe knit ffeeopeyation there} of by hand; when desired, asshown in Figures withthenotcl-i' I44 thelowr edge of the-Wall 23 of'the casing 2!. 'In's'o doihg; the movable clutch member I25 is shifted fronithe'position shown in Figuie 6 into engagement with the driving clutch member 130 as shown iri-Figufek'and, sinee'the'sha'ft IABis constantly driven as the blade 41' is driven, it isevident' that't'his' will cause the shaft I24 to fotate and will therebyimp'art move'ineiit 'to the endless belts or sprocketchains lflfl'and I01.

Accordiiig1y;the upper reaches of the endless belts or sprocket chains" 1 fillan'd' HH will move for War'dly as the lower reaches thereof'r'noveinthe opposite direction. The I'ength'of the vertically fcipfooabl'e thrust pi'n H4 is such that it"Will remain in engagement with 'tl'ie'bushing Wreg'ai'dless of whether the pivot pin H2 therefor is moving with the upper reaches ofthe' sprocket chains llltand ml or the lower reaches theieof and, accordingly, the sprocket chains H30 and HH will transmit reoiproc ato'ry movement to the article carriage 36;

It is thus seen that I have provided anovel means for imparting reciprbca tory movement to the article cai'iiage 36"of the slicing machine and whefein means are provided whereby' the power operating r'nechainisni for reciproe'atin'g the'table' or afticle cariia'ge may 'bethro'wn out of operative relation with thetabl'e or article carriage to permit ffee'operation thereof by hand, if so desired:

Second form of clu-tcfimeafis for throwirifthe driving mechanism forreciprocating the capriage into and-mute operative relation" with the carriage movable clutchmember l25,when

parting reciprocatory'movernent to the carriage 36.

Now, inorder to perniit rela tive Ihdiriifithtween theca 'r-iageand the endles s heltsof chains we and W1" andthe movable parts eohrietea thereto, 1 I have provided a secdndioini of means whereby the power; operated iiiechanisfn' for Ye;- eiprooating-the table or article caf iagejniay he thrown out of operative relat on theftalo'l'e 9, inane-11. H a

Sincethe conventional partsof'th'e slicili ifla chine shown in -Figures 9, l9 and 11 are iden a1 to the parts'shown in l1"ig ures l to 8, incllus and; also, sin ce many oi the parts of' the im} proved"clriving mechanism shown Figures; 9, 10 am 1-1 are identical tot hose sh in- Fiuies 1 to 8, inclusive, only those p'ar'ts Shawn iii'Fig'fuies- 9; 1-0 and 11 which d i if ei' fro'hi' the; parts shown in; Figures 1 to V 8, inclusive 'willb e described in=detail and the remaining partsshall heai 'the same referen ce cha facte s as siniilai" p arts shovfh iii-Figures l-to 8-, inclusive; with -thepiinie notationaddecl. v I p p Iii-the foi m-of carriage time detaching means shown-in Figures '9, l0 and 11 the reciprocate carriage drivin g shaft H4 is preferable" relativelyshorter than-the orig inal shaft l assure;- ingthe housing to; be spaced suhstant ially the same distance below the guide block 4! 9 as the housing 86 is spaced below the guide block 4|. n

' The thrust pin or vertical reciprocable shaft H4 has substantially vertical or longitudinal sliding movement in a bushing or guide member I68 which partially extends through the slot 90 in the top wall or cover 86' of the housing 88. The upper end of the bushing or guide member I60 is fixed in an auxiliary carriage I6I spaced below the guide block 4| of the article carriage 36' and being mounted for movement parallel to the guide block 4 I on auxiliary carriage guide rods or bars I62 and I63. Opposite ends of the auxiliary carriage guide bars or rods I62 and I63 are suitably secured in extensions I64 and I65 projecting upwardly from, and being suitably secured to or integral with, the end walls 84 and 85' of the housing 80'. I

The auxiliary carriage I6I has a latch or clutch pin I61 suitably secured thereto and projecting upwardly therefrom and which is preferably disposed in side by side parallel relation to the vertically reciprocable pin or'shaft H4. When it is desired to operate the table 'or article carriage 36 mechanically, the pin I61 is in engagement with the lower end of avertically movable clutch dog or plunger I18 which is preferably rectangular in cross-section and is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the guide block 4 I of the article carriage 38'. ,Of course, the vertically reciprocab-le clutch I16 may be circular in 'cross section and suitably keyed in the guide block 4|", if desired. 7

The lower end of the clutch dog I16 has a pair of downwardly'converging tapered cam surfaces III and I12 thereon between which the lower end of the vertically movable dog or plunger I is provided with a notch or cavity I13 which is adapted to fit over the upperend of the pin I61 when it is desired to operate the table or article carriage by power. The medial portion of the vertically reciprocable plunger or clutch dog I10 has a shoulder I14 thereon which is normally urged into engagement with the upper surface of the guide block 4! of the article carriage 36 by a compression spring l15. The compression spring I16 engages the upper end of the clutch dog or plunger I16 at one end thereof and the other'end thereof engages the lower surface of the top' wall of an inverted substantially U- shapedor cup-shaped bracket I16 suitably secured, as, by'screws I11, to the upper surfaceof the guide block M. v r

Sin'cethe bracket I16 is supported up'onthe guide block I', it is evident that a shield, such as the shieldlifi in Figures 11,2 and 3, wouldeither have to be omitted from the 'form of the invention shownin Fi ures 9; lo and 11 or a suitable slot would have to be provided therein to accom' modate the bracket I16 and adjacent parts." Opposite sides of theinvertedcup-shaped or U- shaped, bracket I16 are provided with coinciding vertically extending slots I88 in 'whichflopposite end portionsof a transverse. pin I8I have vertical sliding movement. The pin iBI penetrates the upper portion of the plunger -or clutch dog ilfiand is preferably fixed therein, as by a pressed One end of the pin 81 is urged into engagee ment' with the upper surface of an eccentric cam broadly designatedat I82 fixed on a manually rotatable cam shaft I Blip-One end of the cam shaft 163 is rotatably supported; in the bracket I16 and the other end thereof is rotatably sup ported in the. outermost side wall of the'article 10 carriage 36 relative to the blade 41'. A suitable adjusting knob I85 is fixed on the outer end of the cam shaft I83. The hub of the knob I85 and a suitable collar I86, fixed on the shaft I83, prevent endwise movement or longitudinal movement of the cam shaft I83.

It will be observed in Figure 9 that the eccentrio cam I82 has a substantially radially extending portion I82a integral therewith which is provided with a concave notch or groove 321) in the outer end thereof. Thus, by rotating the cam I82 in a clockwise direction in Figure 9, it is evident that the pin I8I will be moved upwar-dly in engagement with the cam I82 until it rests in engagement with the notch I 821) in the cam I 82 and this will raise the clutch dog or vertically movable plunger I10 from the dotted line to the solid line position shown in Figure 11.

I The operator may then manually reciprocate the carriage 36 without being encumbered by the parts disposed within the housing and, also, the parts disposed within the housing 80'- may continue to operate along with the auxiliary carriage I6I. It is evident that a clutch mechanism such as that shown in the right-hand central portion of Figure 6 would not be necessary in association with the form of the invention shown in Figures 9, l0 and 11.

If it is desired to reciprocate the table or article carriage 36 by power, the cam I82 is returned to the position shown in Figure 9 to thereby permit-the springITB to move the clutch dog or vertically reciprocable plunger I18 downwardly to the dotted line position shown'in Figure 11. This may be done regardless of the relative position of the pin I61 in the auxiliary carriage I6I and even though the auxiliary carriage may be reciprocating at the time that the vertically reciprocable plunger or clutch dog I16 is permitted to move to its operative or dotted line position shown in Figure 11'.

Now, assuming the auxiliary carriage I 6! to be in the solid line position shown in Figure 11, and the clutch dog or vertically reciprocable' plunger I III to be in the lowered or operative position shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, as the pin I61 engages the cam surface I12, with movement thereof from right to left in Figure 1 1,the pin causes the clutch dog or vertically reciprocable plunger I10 to move upwardly and to then fall downwardly so th'e'pin I61 is positioned in the cavity or notch I13 in the lower end of the vertically reciprocable plunger I18 as shown in broken lines in Figure 11 and as shown in solid lines in Figures 9and 10. It is evident that the auxiliary carriage- I6I would then im-' part'reciprocatory movement to the article car riage 36'.

Of course, in the event that the auxiliary carriage I6I is moving from left to right in Figure 11 and is disposed to the left of the vertically reciprocable plunger or clutch dog I 16 as the clutch 7 dog I10 is moved to the broken line position shown in Figure 11, the pin I61 would engage the cam surface I1I, forcing the clutch dog I18 upwardly and whereupon the clutch dog I18 would be moved downwardly by the spring I15 to the broken line position'shown in Figure 11, with the pin I 61 disposed inthe notch I13.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only; and not for purposes of limitation, the

. l 1 scope cf the invention being definedzinfthe claims. Iclaim:

1. In aslicing machine havinga framaanarticle carriage for material to be slicedzrecip'rocally mounted on said frame and-2a driven rotary cutter blade disposed adjacent the-carriage; the combination of improved imeans for-imparting reciprocatory movement to said article :carriage comprising a pair of closely spaced parallel end-. less belts spaced beneath, and extending in-substantially :parallel relation to, the path ofmove mentof the:article carriagega pivot shaft supported at opposite ends thereof in adjacent reaches of saidJpairof endless belts and spanningthe distance therebetween, a carriagepropellingshait pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end on said pivot shaft, means carriedzby-said article 1 carriage for slidably guiding .the 'upper portion of said propelling shaft, and a driving connection betweenthe rotary cutter bladezand said-endless belts for-imparting movement to the endless :belts whereby said propelling shaft will move 'the :article carriage -=inone direction when moving :with the upper reaches cof saiduendless belts and will movethe carriagetin the opposite direction when moving with the lower-:reaches ofsaid endless bolts.

2. In a" slicing machinehaving' a frame,- an article carriagefor material to be :sliced recipe. rocallyimounted'on' 'sai'dxframe and a drivenrotary cutter blade adisposediadjacent the carriage;- the lcombination'of Iazpair of closely spaced parallel "endless belts *spacedfbeneath and extending in substantially'parallel relation to the path of movement of the article "carriage; .a-pivot shaft supported at oppositezends thereof in adjacent reaches'of said pair inf-endless belts and span-"- ning the distance"therebetweeny a 'carriage pro-'1' pelling shaft pivotally 'mounted' adjacent its lower .end on said pivot shaft," means carried by said farticleicarriage for slidably'guiding the upper portion of said propelling shaft, a'dfiving-con-i nection between the rotary icutter blade and rsaid endless belts 'for imparting movement tothe ends, less belts whereby said propelling-shaft willmbve the article carriage 27in :one :direction when 'mov= ing withath'e upper reaches' of :saidendless belts andwill move'the carr-iage inithe opposite df-i rection whenmoving With'the "lower reaches "of said endless :belts, and-manually operable "means fortdis'engaging the'driving means -.relative to-the carriage to facilitatemanual reciprocation of the article carriage.

3. vInaslicing'machine' having a frame, an article carriage reciprocally mounted on said frame andia motor; the :combinationrof mecha' nismffor mechanically reciprocating thevarticle carriage, said" mechanismincluding; a' pair of closely spaced parallel endless belts, means-.op= erated'ibyfthe motorfor driving the endless belts continuously'in one :direction; a propelling shaft mountedfor axial sliding movement in apart of said carriage and extending laterally relaxtiveto the-direction of travel'of' said carriage; and means carried by,"'and"disposed'between; the proximal portions of said endless belts forpivot ally 'supporting said propelling shaft whereby movement of said belts'willimpart reciprocatory movement to the articlecarriage.

4. In a slicing machine'having a'frame, an

article carriage reciprocally mounted on said frame and a motor; the combination of im'echanism for mechanically reciprocating the article carriage including a pair of closely spaced parallel endless chains, means operated by "the motors-fors-driving the endless chains continuously in one direction, a thrust shaft mounted for axial sliding movement m apart of ,saidicarriage and extending latera11y; relative to the path .of move mentor said carriage, and means carried by, and disposed between, the proximal portionsof said endless chains for vpivotally supporting said thrust shaft whereby movementof said chains will :ime part reciprocatory movement to the article car riage;

5;v Inaslicingmachine having a base, an artir cle carriage reciprocally mounted on .said. base and a driven rotarycutter :blade disposed adjacent said article carriage; the combination of an elongated housingspaced below and disposed in substantially parallel relation to the. articlecarriage; saidhousing having spaced side- Walls, a pair of longitudinally spaced. parallel wheels carried by each of said side walls,.the wheels carried by-one side wall being insubstantially axial alinement with therespective wheels carried by the other side wall, az-pair of :closely spaced .substantially parallel endless belts carried by the wheels, a pivot shaft spanning the distance :between-and being carried by, adjacent reachesof the endless belts, a carriage propelling thrust shaftpivotallysupported on said pivot shaft, means on saidcarriage for slidablysupporting the upper end of saidthrust shaft, and a driving connection between. the rotary cutter bladeand at least one of the :wheels .on which each of the endless belts are mounted. whereby .said endless belts will impart reciprocatory movement to. the article carriage.

6. In. a slicing machine having aflbase, an article carriage. reciprocallyv mounted on .said base and adrivenrotary cuttenblade disposed adjacent said article carriage; the combinationof an elongated housing spaced below and disposed in substantially, parallel. relation to. the article carriage, said housing having spaced side walls, ,a pairof longitudinally spacedparallel .Wheels carried jby each of-lsaidiside walls, the wheels carried .by one side wall being in substantiallyaxial alinement with the respective wheels carried by the other side wall, a pairlof closely spaced substantially. parallel endless belts carried. by the wheels, a pivot shaft "spanning :the distance'between, and being carried by, adjacent reaches ofthe endless belts, a'carriage propelling thrust sh'aftpivotally supported. on said pivot shaft, means on said carriage for slidably supporting the upper end of said thrust shaft, a driving connection between the ,rotary cutter bladeand at least one of the wheels on which each of the endless ,belts'are mounted'whereby said endless belts will impart reciprocatory movement to the articlecarriage, and :manually operable means for disengaging the driving connection relative to the article-carriage to facilitatemanual'reciprocation thereof.

7. In aslicing machine having a frame, a cutter blade carried by the frame and an article carriage reciprocally mounted onsaid frame; the combination of an auxiliary carriage spaced beneath the article carriage and being'reciprocally mounted on said frame to move in parallel-relation to the article carriage, at least one endless belt mounted adjacent the auxiliary carriage, a pivot pin carried by "said endless belt; means for driving saldendless belt, a carriage propelling shaft pivotally' mounted on sald'pivo't shaft and extending*outwardlytherefrom, aportion of said propelling shaft being longitudinally slidably mountedinsaid auxiliary carriage, avertically movable plunger carried by: said: :article carriage and projecting downwardly therefrom and ter minating in closely spaced relation to the upper surface of the auxiliary carriage, said vertically movable plunger having a notch in the lower end thereof, a pin projecting upwardly from the auxiliary carriage and adapted to fit in said notch, and manually operable cam means for raising and lowering said vertically movable plunger into and out of operative relationship with the pin carried by the auxiliary carriage to thereby facilitate mechanical and manual reciprocation of the article carriage.

8. In a slicing machine having a frame, a rotary cutter blade carried by the frame and an article carriage reciprocably mounted on said frame; the combination of a mechanism for mechanically reciprocating the article carriage comprising an elongated housing spaced beneath and extending in substantially parallel relation to the article carriage, said housing having spaced parallel side walls, a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel sprocket wheels rotatably supported by each of said side walls, an endless sprocket chain mounted on each of said pairs of sprocket wheels, a gear carried by one of the sprocket wheels of each pair, a shaft rotatably supported in said side walls, second gears fixed on said shaft and one each meshing with each of the first-named gears, a drive shaft disposed in axial alinement with the first-named shaft, means for continuously rotating the drive shaft, manually operable clutch means operatively connecting the firstnamed shaft with the drive shaft, a pivot pin carried by said endless sprocket chains and spanning the distance between corresponding reaches of said sprocket chains, a thrust shaft pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said pivot shaft and extending upwardly therefrom, and means reciprocally connecting the thrust shaft with said article carriage whereby, upon said clutch means being operatively connected to the first-named shaft, said gear will impart rotation to the sprocket wheels and thereby move the sprocket chains, to, in turn, impart lateral reciprocatory movement to the thrust shaft and thus to the article carriage.

9. In a slicing machine having a frame, a cut- 14 ter blade carried by the frame and an article carriage reciprocally mounted on said frame; the combination of an auxiliary carriage spaced beneath the article carriage and being reciprocally mounted on said base to move in substantially parallel relation to the article carriage, at least one endless belt mounted beneath the auxiliary carriage, a pivot pin carried by said endless belt, means for driving said endless belt, a carriage propelling shaft pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft and extending upwardly therefrom, a portion of said propelling shaft being longitudinally slidablymounted in said auxiliary carriage, a substantially vertically movable plunger carried by said article carriage and projecting downwardly therefrom and terminating in closely spaced relation to the upper surface of the auxiliary carriage, said vertically movable plunger having a notch in the lower end thereof, a pin projecting upwardly from the auxiliary carriage and adapted to fit in said notch, spring means normally urging said plunger downwardly, said plunger having downwardly converging cam surfaces on its lower end adjacent opposite sides of said notch and manually operable cam means for raising and lowering said vertically movable plunger into and out of operative relationship with the pin carried by the auxiliary carriage to thereby facilitate mechanical and manual reciprocation of the article carriage.

' HAROLD C. GROVE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,122,654 Stahley Dec. 29, 1914 1,330,292 Woodington Feb. 10, 1920 1,470,614 Campbell Oct. 16, 1923 1,977,183 Kunz Oct. 16, 1934 2,108,306 Cooper Feb. 15, 1938 2,144,567 Fetterman Jan. 17, 1939 2,371,693 Kelly Mar. 20, 1945 2,412,079 Brustowsky Dec. 3, 1946 2,415,233 Brustowsky Feb. 4, 1947 2,431,390 Folk Nov. 25, 1947 2,456,449 Rouan et a1 Dec. 14, 1948 

